This is so Pirates: Pittsburgh Gives Pitcher with 100 mph Heater $2.25 Million, Decides to Turn Him into a Hitter

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 27-26, just three games back of the Reds in the NL Central. They’re hurtling inexorably toward a 74 win season, which would be their most wins since 2003. The franchise hasn’t been above .500 since Nirvana’s Nevermind was No. 1 on the Billboard charts, Sharon Stone was uncrossing her legs in Basic Instinct, and Monica Seles won three of the four Grand Slam events (she lost in the Wimbledon 1992 final to Steffi Graf).

Stetson Allie, 21, was the team’s second-round draft pick in 2010, signing for $2.25 million, well above Major League Baseball’s recommended slot. His value was in velocity that routinely topped 100 mph while at St. Edward High near Cleveland.

At the time of Allie’s draft, other teams acknowledged his arm — most publications called it the strongest available — but were scared off because of his lack of control. That proved to be his undoing as a pitcher.

When you take a shot on a high risk kid, aren’t you supposed to get him on the cheap and not overpay? Allie struggled with his control last year in Single A, and started off poorly again this year. Time to throw in the towel, obviously. [Post-Gazette]